 Congregational Church Cemetery,
Chapel St., Wem
Photo supplied by Tom Edwards | The name recorded on the gravestone on the RHS of the image is George Albert Griffiths, Private, The King's (Liverpool Regiment), Labour Companies. He died at The Military Hospital in Selattyn on 7th March, 1917, aged 27 years. He was buried on 9th March, 1917 in the Congregational Church Graveyard, Chapel St., Wem.
He was born in Whitchurch, in 1890, the son of John Henry & Minnie Kate Griffiths of Albany Rd., Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, and nephew of Mrs Eva Georgina Tomlins (Baker and Confectioner) of 19, High Street, Wem, with whom he had resided and worked as a Grocer's Assistant for the nine years before his death.
John Griffiths, a carpenter, was born in Wem (c.1863). Minnie Griffiths and Eva Tomlins were sisters, born in Didmarton, Glocs., daughters of Joel & Sarah Stinchcombe of Hawkesbury Upton, Glocs.
Cousin of Albert Henry Stinchcombe (1892-1918) |
"The funeral took place on Monday amid many manifestations of sympathy of PV George A Griffiths, K.I.R., who died in hospital at Camp the previous Wednesday at the age of 27 under very sad circumstances. He had barely been called up a month when he contracted the illness which proved fatal. He was well known and liked in local circles, where he had lived for the last nine years. the coffin was borne by six of his friends to the Congregational Church where he had been accustomed to worship, and here a Memorial Service was held. As the cotege entered the church Miss Stevenson played 'O Rest in the Lord', and the @dead March' on leaving. Rev. S.A. Evans, in his address, laid stress on the deceased soldier's great unselfishness and good nature.
[Reported by the Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News, 17th March, 1917]
[George Griffiths' grave is recognised by CWGC as a war grave.]
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